Seoul City Government Moves to Reduce Ultrafine Particles Called ‘Dust of Death’

The City authority announced on May 27 the ‘Measure of intensifying management of air quality’ to be implemented by 2014.

It will implement the ‘ultrafine particle alert system’ in October this year and disclose concentration of such particles.

It will reduce major substances that cause ultrafine particles investing 157.1 billion won, and expand environmental cooperation with foreign countries and organizations in Korea.

▲Riverside of the Han River in Seoul that looks gray due to yellow sands (file picture)

The Seoul City government will take action to dramatically reduce ultrafine particles called the ‘dust of death’.

The City authority announced on May 27 the ‘Measure of intensifying management of air quality’, focused on controlling ultrafine particles by 2014.

Through the measure, the City authority aims at reducing the concentration of ultrafine particles from the current 23㎍/㎥ on annual average to15㎍/㎥ within 10 years to come.

The ultrafine particle is a dust with diameter of less than 2.5㎛, which is equivalent to one thirtieth~one 2 hundredth of a hair. As they are so tiny, they cause heart and respiratory organ diseases as most of them infiltrate into alveoli without being filtered in air duct when they are inhaled.

For effective management of ultrafine particles, the City authority will initially introduce the ‘ultrafine particle alert system’ in October this year for the first time in the country. And it will disclose concentration of ultrafine particles monitored at 25 observatories in Seoul in real time through 1,029 electronic billboards, its website for atmosphere environment information (cleanair.seoul.go.kr) and Mobile Seoul (m.seoul.go.kr).

In case the concentration exceeds a certain level, it will issue warning or alert and announce a guideline for action.

At the same time, the City authority will take a special measure to reduce major substances that cause ultrafine particles by investing a budget of 157.1 billion won by 2014.

As part of this measure, it will install a device of reducing ultrafine particles and nitrogen oxide in 1,150 large trucks, commuting buses and construction equipments by 2014 on pilot basis, and then expand distribution of such devices after 2015.

And, it will install high energy efficiency and low NOx-type eco-friendly boilers at 800 rental houses being managed by SH Corporation during this year on pilot basis, and then it will support a part of costs for replacing conventional boilers with eco-friendly ones for 20,000 households in 2014.

In order to reduce ultrafine particles in streets, the City authority will increase the number of ‘4-season dust absorbing garbage trucks’ from the current 23 to 55, while introducing 2 ‘flying dust measuring mobile vehicles’ to monitor concentration of flying dusts.

Also, it will loan costs for installing black carbon reducing device at broiling and charcoal grill restaurants, while mandating restaurants larger than certain scale to install such devices.

In addition, given that about a half of ultrafine particles are originated from East Asian countries, including China, the City authority will expand environmental cooperation with these countries, and it will cooperate with Metropolitan Air Quality Management Office, Incheon City government and Gyeonggi-do provincial government for improving atmosphere environment.

Climate Change Policy Officer Kim Yong-bok at the Seoul City government said, “Since their interest and cooperation are important for improving air quality, citizens are urged to actively participate in such moves as refraining from using private cars, and shortening operation time of cooling and heating systems to keep recommended room temperature.”